All gardens have weeds - that's a well known fact. But did you know that most garden weeds have useful culinary and herbalistic uses. In days gone by, poor people could stroll along any hedgerow looking for free food, and they found it by the bucketload!

Knowing what you could eat and what you couldn't eat soon became second nature to peasants, and they found that many minor ailments could be cured by eating specific plants. Lungwort which grows in abundance alongside rivers, for example, was used to combat bronchial illnesses.

Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea)
Part Used: Leaves, stems, roots and seeds
Collect: Leaves should be collected in Spring, and the stems in mid Summer. Angelica seeds should be collected before ripening; and the roots which should be collected in the September of the first years' growth.
Uses: Angelica was believed to help strengthen life, and was chewed, much like tobacco was. As a medicine, angelica was used as a herb to combat stomach upsets, and has a calming effect. Leaves and flowers can be washed and used fresh in a salad, and the leaves can also be used as an alernative to spinach and can be lightly steamed.

Cowslip (Caltha Palustris, Marsh Marigold)
Part Used:Leaves and flower buds
Collect: Spring
Uses: When collecting marsh marigold leaves, simply cut them close to the base of the plant with sharp scissors, leaving the root base to regrow fresh leaves. Cowslip leaves are never eaten raw, as they contain Helleborin, a harmful substance, and for this reason, cowslip leaves are treated somewhat like spinach, and can be steamed and served as a vegetable. Early flower buds can be pickled in a spiced vinegar and can be used as a substitute for capers.

Dandelions (Taraxacum Officinale)
Part Used: Leaves, flowers and roots
Collect: Leaves in Spring, flowers in Summer and roots in Autumn.
Uses: Dandelions contain luteolin, an antioxidant, which can help to lower the risk of heart and neurological diseases.

Wild Garlic
Part Used: Top bulbs and stems
Collect: Mid-summer
Preparation: Can be eaten raw, cooked or pickled
Uses: An excellent source of Vitamins A, B and G. Used to prevent heart disease, by lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Wild Ginger
Part Used: Roots
Collect: In the springtime
Uses: Relieves flatulence by expelling gas from the body, increases perspiration and relieves the symptoms of an upset stomach.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica Dioica)
Part Used: Young sprouts
Collect: In spring, when shoots are 6-8 inches high
Uses: Rich in calcium and iron, nettles can be gathered and made into a nutritious soup. Leaves can be dried and used as a herb in cooking, Extracts of nettle are used to treat arthritis, anaemia, hay fever and kidney problems.

Wild Rose (Rosa canina)
Part Used: Ripe fruits (hips), petals and leaves
Collect: Fruits in September, when fully coloured, petals and leaves in mid-summer.
Uses: Rose hips are an excellent source of Vitamins C, A and P. Vitamin P is believed to prevent heart disease and cancer. Commonly used as an herbal tea, rose hips are often blended with hibiscus, and is drank to act as an antioxidant. Rose hip tea has the ability to prevent urinary bladder infextions, such as cystitis. Rose hips can also be used to make jam, jelly, marmalade and wine.